Frameless awning.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

S. C. GROWS.

PRAMBLBSS AWNING.

APPLICATION EILBD NOV. 21,1904.

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PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

S. 0. GRQWB. FRAMELESS AWNING.

APPLICATION runnmv. 21.1904.

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NITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRAIVIELESS AWNING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,105, dated July 18, 1905. Application filed November 21, 1904. Serial No. 233,662.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CREELMAN CROWE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Frameless Awning, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to awnings and similar structures; and the chief objects thereof are to do away with the frames that are ordinarily used and to provide means for efficiently and eflfectively operating the awning-cover to open and close it. These objects are accomplished by substituting movable bars for the frame and employing a system of flexible connections for manipulating the bars and cover.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,-

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a building, showing a preferred form of Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with parts broken away to show the various connections employed; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, on asmall scale, showing a modification.

The cover a of the awning is designed to be supported by a pair of bars 6. These bars are provided with projections 1), adapted to rest in eyes For the like, or they maybe pivoted to the wall of the building in any other desired manner. They are preferably pivoted on vertical lines, so that they are capable of swinging toward and from each other to open and close the cover. A flexible connection in the form of a rope, chain, or cable 0 is attached to one of the bars and passes over pulley-blocks c to a fastening device 0 A similar connection O is joined to the other bar 6 and passes in a similar manner to the fastening device 0 These two connections are designed to be fastened at their ends, so as to prevent the bars from swinging beyond a certain point away from each other. After the device is once set up and after these connections are adjusted so as to fix the bars at.

the proper angle to the building they are intended to be left in that position as long as the awning is in place.

For the purpose of swinging the bars inward toward each other another flexible connection d of similar character is employed. This is attached at one end d to one of the bars, passes over pulley-blocks d to the other bar, where it passes around another pulley-block (Z and thence back to a fastening device d. It will be readily observed that by unfastening the end of this connection at (Z and pulling it up so as to fasten it in another position on the same fastening device the two bars 6 will be swung upon their pivots toward each other and may be folded over against the building.

The cover of the awning is stretched or spread out upon the bars when they are in their open position by means of a pair of connections 6 and E. Each of these connections is joined to the cover at the opposite outer corners thereof and passes over a pulley a, preferably journaled at the end of the bar, thence downwardly to a pulley c and from that through pulleys to a fastening device 0. A spring f is loosely connected with each of these connections 6 and E by means of an eye f through which the connection passes. These two springs are at their opposite ends connected with a building or any desired stationary object. These springs extend at an angle from the points at which they are connected with the building outwardly toward the two lines 6 and E, and upon drawing down the ends of these two lines the first effect will be to stretch these springs. If the awning-cover is folded back and the two rods 1) are also folded against the building, the next effect will be to swing the bars outwardly on their pivots to the position in which they are stopped by the connections 0 and C. After this operation is performed and, in fact, before it is completed the force on the connections 6 and E will cause the awning to be gradually pulled out toward the ends of the bars. Oonsequently the whole awning can be spread by pulling on these two lines.

In order to fold the awning back against the wall of the building, an additional pair of connections g and Gr are provided. These are connected with the awnings at points adjacent to the points at which the connections and E are joined to them and pass backwardly along the edges toward the building through eyelets 9. These connections pass over pulleys g at the back of the awning and then through the awning-cover to a fastening device g Obviously all of the connections can be fastened to a single cleat or fastening device, if desired.

Aside from the cover of the awning it is preferably provided with end pieces ct and a front piece a depending from the cover. Both of these are preferably provided with a V-shaped or other edge, which is of double thickness and is provided with shot a or other weights to hold it against the action of wind and the like.

A cord It may be attached in the center of the bottom or front of the awning, passing up under it to the face of the building and through a pulley h for pulling up any loose part that may sag in the center of the awning.

struction.

A spring is on each bar 5 is employed for catching the lower part of the front curtain to prevent the wind from raising it up. A spring Z is used to take up loose cords that might drop in front of a window. A loop m is formed at the lower end of the awning and two cords n or a rigid substance passed through it.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. When the awning is in opened position, it is folded up by loosening the connections d and D, pulling it in toward the building by the connections 9 and G, and then swinging the rods or booms 6 toward the building by means of the connection d. These connections should then all be fastened to their respective fastening devices, which may of course be of any desired kind and con- In order to open the awning, the connections (Z, g, and G are unfastened, and the device is manipulated by means of connections e and E, which are simultaneously pulled downward, so as to spread the awning and swing the booms outward.

It will be observed that the frames ordinarily employed are entirely done away with, with the exception of the two booms or rods 6, and that the cost is thereby reduced. It will also be seen that the front flap (0 which is usually provided with advertising matter, Will be located on the outside of the awning in a position where it can be readily seen when the awning is folded up, while in those at present on the market this advertising matter is entirely covered and shut off from the view of the publicwhen the awnings are folded.

While I have illustrated and described a particular and practical embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to this form, but that many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An awning-frame consisting of a pair of bars vertically pivoted to the wall of a building or the like, and capable of simultaneously swinging toward each other on their pivots.

2. In an awning, the combination of a pair a pair of movable bars, a connection between each bar and thecover for stretchingthe cover over the bars, means for moving the bars away from each other, and means for moving the bars in the opposite direction.

5. In an awning, the combination of acover, a pair of movable bars, a connection between each bar and the cover for stretching the cover over the bars, means for moving the bars away from each other, and means for preventing motion of the bars beyond a certain point.

6. In an awning, the combination of a cover, a pair of vertically-pivoted bars, means for simultaneously moving both bars toward each other, and two flexible elements attached to the cover and passing freely over one of the bars, for stretching the cover over the bars.

7. In an awning, the combination of a cover, a pair of bars movably mounted, means for stretching the cover over the bars, and a flexible connection attached to each end of the cover, threaded through the cover, and passing inwardly along the cover, for moving the cover over the bars.

8. In an awning, the combination of a cover, a pair of movably-mounted bars, two flexible elements attached to the cover near the opposite outer ends thereof and each passing freely over one of the bars for stretching the cover outwardly along the bars, a flexible connection attached to each end of the cover at points near those at which said flexible elements are attached, said connections passing inwardly along the cover for folding the cover up toward the inner ends of the bars, means for holding the bars against movement beyond a certain point, and means for swinging them toward each other.

9. In an awning, the combination with a frame, comprising a pair of movable bars for supporting the awning-cover, of a flexible connection from each bar to a stationary point for holding the bars against moving away Intestimony whereofIhave signed my name from each other beyond a certain point, and a to this specification in the presence of two subflexible connection connected with each bar scribing witnesses.

for moving them toward each other.

10. An awning-frame consisting of a pair SAMUEL OREELMAN OROWE of vertically pivoted and inclined bars, in com- Witnesses: bination with means for swinging the bars to- J 0s. G. ANGRONI, ward and from each other on their pivots. GEORGE N. WEST. 

